PRESS RELEASE
PCCW to implement HK$5.3 million integrated-systems solution
for Sunflower Travel
Hong Kong July 14, 2002 - PCCW today announced a HK$5.3 million systems integration contract with Sunflower Travel Service Limited to automate operations of the agency's 19 branches in Hong Kong and Macau.
Under the contract, PCCW will design the system architecture as well as install and maintain the server and Gilboa software system for Sunflower, one of Hong Kong's leading travel agencies with 28 years experience. Besides IT support, PCCW will provide upgrade services for the next five years.
Marketed exclusively in the Asia-Pacific region by PCCW, Gilboa is a travel agent office-management system that enables a fully automated business workflow, such as real-time ticketing, faster tour booking, while featuring improved system security, online booking and tighter control of work procedures.
On the back-end, Sunflower's new systems will be connected to Abacus, a leading air-ticketing system used by travel agents and airlines in Asia. The Gilboa system's other functions include analyzing customer profiles and transactions as well as handling accounting matters.
Sunflower's Executive Director Alice Wong said: "PCCW's flexible systems-integration solutions give us a greater ability to meet our customer's increasingly diversified travel needs in a cost-efficient manner."
Ms. Wong said the new software solution would boost Sunflower's productivity substantially, enabling front-line staff to confirm tour bookings with customers in an average of three minutes, compared with the current average of six minutes to seven minutes.
PCCW's Commercial Group Managing Director Aloysius Lee said PCCW's systems-integration unit has the resources to offer scalable solutions to growing companies such as Sunflower.
"Sunflower is focused on growth in greater China, and PCCW offers an array of tailored IT&T solutions for companies expanding in the dynamic and highly competitive Asian tourism sector."
PCCW is focused on serving the IT needs of the growing Asian tourism market, particularly in mainland China, where, in the first five months this year, visitor arrivals rose 8.9 percent year-on-year to reach 38.9 million, according to the China National Tourism Administration. During the same period, mainland China's tourism receipts also increased 12 percent to US$7.92 billion.
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Sylvia Lee, General Manager, Corporate Sales, Commercial Business of PCCW (left 2), Alice Wong, Executive Director of Sunflower Travel Service Ltd (right 2) Aloysius Lee, Managing Director, Commercial Group of PCCW (left 1), and Peter Young, Managing Director of Sunflower Travel Service Ltd officiating at the contract signing ceremony.
About PCCW
Pacific Century CyberWorks Limited (SEHK: 0008, ADR-NYSE: PCW), the Hong Kong-listed flagship of the Pacific Century Group, is one of Asia's leading integrated communications companies. From its market-leading position in Hong Kong, PCCW is focused on building shareholder value by leveraging synergies between its core businesses and partners, and by delivering customer-led total solutions throughout Asia. PCCW provides key services in the areas of: integrated telecommunications; broadband solutions; connectivity; narrowband and interactive broadband (Internet Services); business e-solutions; data centers and related infrastructure.
To learn more about PCCW, please go to www.pccw.com.
About Sunflower
Sunflower Travel Service Ltd was founded in 1974. Currently, the Company offers a full range of services including ticketing and organising outbound tour groups to worldwide tourist spots. It has a total of 19 offices strategically located throughout Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, New Territories and Macau. Apart from arranging package tours, it also provides services including hotel bookings, tailor-made incentive tours for business and leisure travel, visa applications, bus and train pass bookings and insurance for individual travellers. The China Development Department also organises outbound package tours and incentive tours for PRC citizens to different countries.
Sunflower Travel, with its management team who has substantial experience in the operation of travel services and 600 well-trained staff are committed to provide high quality services and products to its customers.
For media inquiries:
PCCW
Anita Choi
Tel: (852) 2888-6320
Email: anita.km.choi@pccw.com
